Machine for treating impregnated fabrics to produce incandescent gas-mantles.



N0. 805,325. PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905.

J. T. ROBIN.

MACHINE FOR TREATING IMPREGNATED FABRICS TO PRODUCE INGANDBSGENT GASMANTLES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 23, 1901.

4 SHEETS-SHBET 1.

INVENTOR I116 ATTORNEYS No. 805,825. PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905. J. T.ROBIN.

MACHINE FOR TREATING IMPREGNATED FABRICS TO PRODUCE INGANDESUENT GASMANTLES.

APPLIGTION TILED AUG. 23, 1901. 4 SHIBET-Q SHHH, z.

I X I m T is lNVENTOR Jase/Lb 7." Po Jim BY I ' If/S ATTORNEY-3' J.T.ROBIN.

MACHINE FOR TREATING IMPREGNATBD FABRICS T0 PRODUCE PATENTED NOV. 21,1905.

INGAN DESGENT GAS MANTLES.

APPLIGATION FILED 0.2 1901.

AU 48HBETS-SHBBT 3.

I BY ac/a/uv-vy m' tuq HIS ATTORNEYS- bio- 805,325. PATENTED NOV. 21,1905. I J. T. ROBIN.

MACHINE FOR TREATING IMPREGNATBD FABRICS T0 PRODUCE INGANDESGENT GASMANTLES.

APPLICATION FILED 4136.23, 1901. SHEETS-SHEET 4 BY I AadcAfi/um r wn/04.

Hi6 ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

JOSEPH T. .EoBIN, on NEW YORK, N. Y. MACHINE FOR TREATING IMPREGNATEDFABRICS TO PRODUCE INCANDESCENT GAS-MANTLES.

Specification of Letters Iatcnt.

Patented Nov. 21, 1905.

Application filed August 23, 1901. Serial No. 72,994.

T0 at whmn it Wwty concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH T. ROBIN, a citizen of the United States,residing in the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of NewYork. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines forTreating Impregnated Fabrics to Produce Incandescent Gas-Mantles, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a machine for treating fabrics in tubular orstocking form which are impregnated with a substance or substances, suchas rare earthy salts, to produce incandescent gas-mantles.

I will describe such a machine embodying my invention, and then pointout the novel features thereof in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view, partly in elevationand partly in vertical longitudinal section, of a machine embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is a View, partly in top plan and partly in transversesection, of mechanisms for intermittently operating parts comprised inthe machine. Fig. 3 is a view, partly in elevation and partly intransverse vertical section, taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4is aview similar to Fig. 3 and taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is aview similar to Fig. 3 and taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig.6 is aview, partlyin elevation and partly in vertical transverse sec tion, ofthat end of the machine at the right of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a detail viewof a portion of the mechanism for intermittently operating parts of themachine. Fig. 8 is a detail view of a portion of a mantle-trimmingmechanism. Fig. 9 is a view, partly in vertical section, of themantle-trimming mechanism. Fig. 10 is a detail view of a hook forsuspending the structure during its travel in the machine. Fig. 11 is abottom plan view of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a detail view, partly insection, of table or support and a centering means.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all of thefigures.

A represents a framework upon which the several parts comprised in themachine may be supported or suspended, the framework being of suchconstruction and material as will best support and suspend the severalparts Y comprised in the machine.

or belts B B pass about sprockets or pulleys Z), which serve to guidethe chains in their travel.

6 represents a shaft on which two sprockets Z) are mounted. This shaftis provided with a sprocket b, about which a chain 5 passes. The chain 6is driven from a mechanism which is intermittently operated, therebygiving an intermittent movement to the two chains and bars B Eachcarrier-bar B is suspended by means of arms 6 from a rod 6*, the ends ofwhich are removably held in the chainsB B. Each bar B is provided with anumber of suspending devices C. (See Figs. 10 and 11.) Each suspensiondevice comprises an arm or other support 0, here shown as being in theform of a right angle, screw-threaded at one of its ends to receive anut 0, and provided at its other end with forked portions 0*. Thescrew-threaded portion of the arm is passed through the bar B and it isheld in this position by the nut c. Secured upon the arm 0 is a bracket0 carrying a hook 0*. One end of the hook 0' extends through one of theforks of the portion 0 of the arm 0, as indicated at 0". and its otherend portion extends upwardly from the bracket 0 as indicated at c. Theend 0 is adapted to be engaged by a rod 7t, carried by avertically-reciprocating table or support D, and the engagement of theend 0 by the rod causes the hook 0 to rock in the bracket 0 and to haveits end 0 disengaged from the usual suspending-loop on an incandescentmantle.

D, D, D D D*, and D represent tables or supports which are capable ofbeing moved vertically. The table D is provided with mechanism fortrimming the treated impregnated fabrics and for removing them from thecarrier-bars B. The tables D, D D and D carry the burners employed totreat the impregnated fabrics, while the table D carries a tankcontaining a dipping solution.

Each table D D, &c., comprises a shelf (Z, the ends of which arefastened to brackets (Z. The brackets d are adj ustably fixed onvertically-arranged rods (Z by means of set-screws d Each bracketcomprises a sleeve-like portion through which a rod (Z extends, and eachrod is guided in brackets 07*, secured to the framework. The rods ofeach table are connected by pitmen (Z to cranks (Z provided on a shaft(Z It will be seen, therefore, that on each complete revolution of eachshaft cl the tables D D, 620., will be raised and lowered. In thepresent instance each shaft is given a half-revolution to raise itstable, and after awhile it is given another half-revolution to lower itstable.

The several shafts (Z may be rotated to raise and lower all of thetables or supports D D, &c., simultaneously or successively, as desired.I prefer to raise certain tablesas, for example, D D and D"at one timeand tables D, D, and D at another time. The mechanism for rotating theseveral shafts (Z and the shaft 6 is intermittently operated and may beof any arrangement to accomplish this. The mechanism here employed isshown more particularly in Figs. 1 and 2 and con-' sists of thefollowing parts: Extending the entire length of the framework A are apair of endless sprocket chains or belts E E, which are continuouslydriven from a suitable motor E intermediate of the chains E E arecross-bars E", which during the movement of the chains E E engage withand operate other mechanisms--as. for example, chains E, E and E, eachof which chains is provided with one or more projections c with whichthe bars E engage. It is obvious, therefore, that the frequency ofoperation of each of the chains E", E and E may be regulated bythelength of the chains E E or by the number of bars E Referring now tothe chain E", which operates the belts or chains B, it passes around anidler-sprocket and around a sprocket carried by the shaft (3. The shaft6 carries a sprocket 0 around which the chain 1) passes. Referring nowto the chain E, it passes around an idler-sprocket and around asprocketfixed to the shaft cl of the table D". This shaft (Z is provided with asprocket around which-a sprocket-chain 0" passes, which chain alsopasses around a sprocket a, fast on the shaft (Z of table D The shaft (Zof table D is provided with a sprocket (1, around which a sprocket-chain0 passes, which chain also passes around a sprocket 0 fast on the shaft(Z of table D Thus it will be seen that upon the operation of chain Ethe three shafts (Z of tables D D", and D will be r0- tated to raise andlower the tables D D and D. Referring now to chain E", (see Fig. 7,) itpasses about an idler-sprocket a" and about a sprocket e fast on theshaft (Z of table D This shaft has fixed to it (see Fig. 2) a sprocket aabout which a sprocket-chain 0 passes, which chain also passes about asprocket a, fast on the shaft (Z of table D. The shaft (Z of table D hasfixed to it a sprocket 6, around which a sprocket-chain e passes, whichchain also passes about a sprocket 6 fast on the shaft 6Z7 of table D.Thus it will be seen that upon the operation of chain E the three shaftsd of tables D, D, and D will be rotated to raise and lower said tables.To assist in the raising and lowering of the several tables D D, &c.,each table is provided with a pair of counterbalance-weights (Z whichare connected with chains (Z passing over pulleys d journaled at the topof the framework A. It is obvious that independent motors may besupplied to raise and lower each table and operate the chains B B. Asherein illustrated, the chains E, E, and E constitute separate powermechanisms operated from a common power mechanism E E.

In the operation of the machine an attendant on the platform X placesimpregnated fabrics in the substantial shape of stockings upon the hooksof the carrier-bars as they are intermittently brought into position.The stockings at this time consist of the fabric and the earthy saltswith which the fabric is impregnated. As the stockings are moved alongthey come adjacent a series of burners F, one burner being provided foreach stocking. These burners are carried by a gas-pipe f, which is abranch of a main supply-pipe. (Not shown.) f represents acompressed-airsupply pipe forming a branch of a main supply. The air, inconnection with the gas, forms a blast which is necessary to heat thesalts of the stocking to a high enough degree to have the fabric burnedaway. The stockings are held adjacent these burners until the fabric isdestroyed, after which the resultant structure, which consists of anetwork of the salts, is brought by the carrier-bars to the burners F, FF and F in succession, which burners are supported on the tables D, D Dand D, respectively. The burners F are for the purpose of heating thestructure to such a high temperature as to cause an oxidation of thesalts. A preliminary shaping of the structure is also had at theseburners, for after the fabric has been destroyed the structures haveapproximately the shape shown in Fig. 12 that is to say, they have anirregular surface. The burners F F and F are for hardening thestructures and for giving the final shape to them. represents jets forair which are located adjacent the path of travel of the carrier-barsand are for the purpose of cooling the carrier-bars and their suspendingdevice.

The principal purpose of using a plurality of sets of burners is thatthe action of the machine may be quick. Any number of sets of burnersmay be used.

The burners comprised in the several sets F F, &c., are Bunsen burnersand compressed air is used in connection therewith, first, to heightenthe effect of the flame, and, second, to give shape to the structures.The several gas pipes f and the several compressed-air pipes f may beconnected with a supply-pipe common to all burners and jets comprised inthe machine. The individual pipes f f on each table are separatelycontrolled by valves f f, respectively. The valves f" f" areautomatically opened and closed, the means for accomplishing this beingoperated by the table as it is raised and lowered. The gas and airvalves are turned on gradually until each reaches its full openposition, in which position the table is fully raised, and each valve isgradually closed when the table is lowered. In order that each structurewill be properly centered over its burner, a centering means is providedfor each table D D 850. As here shown, such means may consist of avertically-arranged rod :10, having a curved end x, which engages withthe carrier-bar above its table. (See Fig. 12.) Any other means foraccomplishing the same purpose may be employed.

The means here shown for opening and closing the valves ff will now bedescribed. As the same arrangement of parts is used on each table, thefollowing description of one will apply equally to all. Each valve f fis provided with an operating-stem f, at one end of which is a weightf frepresents a rod adjustably held in a support f", rigid with theframework, by means of nuts f. This rod is provided with a head f, whichis formed by bending the end of the rod, which head engages with theoperating-stem to cause the valve to openwhen the table carrying thevalve is raised. On the lowering of the table the weightf tends to closethe valve. Flexible connections are provided in the several gas and airpipes f f in order that the tables may he raised and lowered. Theflexible connections may conveniently consist of turncouplings betweenthe several sections comprised in these said pipes. By havingindependent rods f for each valve separate adjustments may be had forthe air and gas. This is done by shifting the position of the rod tochange the time of opening of the valve.

-After the structures have been hardened and the carrier-bars andsuspending devices cooled the carrier-bars are successively brought intoposition over the table D The table D carries a tank or receptacle Grcontaining a stiffening solution, which may be collodion. The table Drises at the proper moment and brings the receptacle G to such positionas to cause an immersion of the structures.

After the structures are dipped they are carried along the top of theframework to permit them to dry. The dried structures are then broughtinto position over the table D. This table carries a plurality ofmandrels H and a plurality of knives H. As the table D is raised aseries of vertical rods it carried thereby (one for each suspendingdevice G) engages with the ends 0 of the hooks 0 to disengage the hooksfrom the loops and permit the structures to fall onto the mandrels H.The several knives H are carried by a bar it, which is reciprocated byhand, a handle 7&2 being provided for this purpose. The bar It isprovided with rack-teeth 7L which mesh with pinions it, carried by themandrels. Then thebar is reciprocated longitudinally,

the mandrels are rotated, and at the same,

time the ends of the structures are trimmed by the knives H. The trimmedstructures are then removed from the formers H for packing.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In amachine for treating astructureto produce an incandescent mantle originally consisting of a fabricimpregnated with a suitable substance, the combination of a travelingsupport, a series of treating devices for the structure, and means forintermittently presenting the structure for treatment, said meanscomprising a continuously-moving chain and an independent chain gearedwith the traveling support and moved at intervals by thecontinuously-moving chain.

2. In a machine for treating a structure to produce an incandescentmantle originally consisting of a fabric impregnated with a suitablesubstance, the combination of a plurality of endless chains having meansfor supporting the structure, means consisting of acontinuously-operating chain carrying bars, and a single chain havingprojections with which the bars engage for intermittently operating'sa'id single chain, and a series of treating devices, each adapted toperform a step in the manufacture of the incandescent mantle.

3. In a machine for treating a structure to produce an incandescentmantle originally consisting of a fabric impregnated with a suitablesubstance, the combination of a traveling support for said structure,mechanism for intermittently moving said traveling support, means fordestroying the fabric and for causing an oxidation of the saidsubstance, other means for hardening the oxidized substance and forshaping the structure, which means are raised to and lowered from thetraveling support, a device for carrying astiflening so lution alsoadapted to be raised to and lowered from the traveling support, andother means for trimming the structure and removing it from thetraveling support.

4. In a machine for treating a structure to produce an incandescentmantle originally consisting of a fabric impregnated with a suitablesubstance, the combination of a traveling support comprising a pluralityof carrierbars from each of which a structure is suspended, a series ofdevices each adapted to perform'a step in the manufacture of theincandescent mantle, and means for movingsaid traveling support topresent the structure to said devices successively and for moving thedevices to and away from the carrier-bars.

5. In a machine for treating a structure to produce an incandescentmantle originally consisting of a fabric impregnated with a suitablesubstance, the combination of a traveling support, a series of devicesfor treating the structure to produce an incandescent mantle, movabletables on which some of said devices are mounted and means forintermittently moving said traveling support and for raising andlowering the said movable tables toward i and away from the travelingsupport, said means comprising a continuously-operating chain havingbars, a series of separate chains each having projections with which thesaid bars engage, and suitable connections between said individualchains and the traveling support and movable tables.

I 6. In a machine for treating structures to produce incandescentmantles originally consisting of fabrics impregnated with a suitablesubstance, the combination of a traveling support, comprising aplurality of carrier-bars for the structures, a series of treatingdevices, each adapted to perform a step in the manufacture of theincandescent mantle, and means for intermittently moving the travelingsupport to present the structures to the treating devices successivelyand for moving each of the devices to and away from each carrier-bar,comprising a continuously moving endless chain carrying a number of barsand a plurality of independent chains each carryinga number ofprojections which are engaged by said bars.

7 In a machine for treating a structure to produce an incandescentmantle originally consisting of a fabric impregnated with a suit ablesubstance, the combination of a traveling support comprising a pluralityof carrier-bars from each of which a structure is suspended, a series oftreating devices each adapted to perform a step in the manufacture ofthe incandescent mantle comprising movable tables, a pair of rodsconnected with each movable table, and means for moving each of saidtables to and from the structures, said means consisting of a shaftcarrying cranks, which cranks are connected to the rods of its table,and gearing for rotating the shafts intermittentl y. I

8. A machine for treating structures to produce an incandescent mantleoriginally consisting of fabrics impregnated with suitable substances,having endless chains, bars connected with and extending between thechains, a series of suspension devices carried by said bars, incombination with a series of treating devices, each adapted to perform astep in the manufacture of the incandescent mantles and comprisingmovable tables carrying treating devices arranged to move toward andaway from the suspension devices.

9. In a machine for treating structures to produce incandescent mantlesoriginally consisting of fabrics impregnated with suitable substances,the combination of a plurality of endless chains, carrierbars connectedwith and extending between the chains and having means for suspendingthe structures, means for intermittently moving the chains, and a seriesof treating devices each adapted to perform a step in the manufacture ofthe incandescent mantles.

10. In a machine for treating a structure to produce an incandescentmantle originally consisting of fabric impregnated with a suitablesubstance, the combination of chains, means for intermittently movingthe said chains, rods intermediate said chains, carrierbars for thestructure hung from said rods, and a series of treating devices, eachadapted to perform a step in the manufacture of the incandescent mantle.

11. In a machine for treating a structure to produce an incandescentmantle originally consisting of a fabric impregnated with a suitablesubstance, the combination of a traveling support, a suspension devicefor the said structures carried by the traveling support and comprisingan arm and a pivoted hook which coacts with said arm, and a series oftreating devices each adapted to perform a step in the manufacture ofthe incandescent mantle.

12. In a machine for treating a structure to produce an incandescentmantle originally consisting of a fabric impregnated with a suitablesubstance, the combination of a plurality of endless chains, means forintermittently moving said chains, rods extending between the chains,carrier-bars pivotally hung from each rod, suspension devices carried byeach of said bars, each suspension device comprising an arm and apivoted hook which coacts with said arm, and a series of treatingdevices, each adapted to perform a step in the manufacture of theincandescent mantle.

13. In a machine for treating a structure to produce an incandescentmantle originally consisting of a fabric impregnated with a suitablesubstance, the combination of a plurality of endless chains, means forintermittently moving said chains, means connected therewith forsuspending the structure, a suspension device for the structuresupported by said means, comprising an arm and a pivoted hook whichcoacts with said arm, a series of treating devices each adapted toperform a step in the manufacture of the incandescent mantle, a trimmingmechanism, and means carried by said trimming mechanism which engagewith the said hook for moving the hook on its pivot and disengaging itfrom the structure whereby the structure Will drop into position to beacted upon by the trimming mechanism.

14. In a machine for treating structures to produce incandescent mantlesoriginally consisting of fabrics impregnated with suitable substances,the combination of a traveling sup port comprising carrier-bars andsuspension devices, aseries of treating devices, and means comprised insaid devices which engage with the carrier-bars for centering them inorder to properly present the structures for treatment. 1

15. In a machine for treating structures to produce incandescent mantlesoriginally consisting of fabrics impregnated with suitable substances,the combination of a plurality of chains, means for intermittentlymoving said IOC chains, rods intermediate the chains, carrierbarspivotally hung from said rods, suspension devices for the structuresprovided on said carrier-bars a series of treating devices to which thebars are moved comprising movable tables, and means carried by eachmovable table for centering the carrier-bar adjacent to it in order toproperly present the structure to the treating device.

16. In a machine for treating astructure to produce an incandescentmantle originally consisting of a fabric impregnated with a suitablesubstance, the combination of a traveling support, a plurality ofcarrier-bars connected therewith, means for intermittently moving thetraveling support, a series of treating devices each adapted to performa step in the manufacture of the incandescent mantle comprising movabletreating devices, burners comprised in said devices, a gas-supply and anair-supply for such burners, a valve for separately controlling theair-supply and the gas-supply of the burners comprised in the movabletreating devices, means for moving said movable treating devices towardand away from the carrier-bars, and means for opening .and closing thevalves of the air-supply and gas-supply of the movable treating devices.

17. In a machine for treating a structure to produce an incandescentmantle originally consisting of a fabric impregnated with a suitablesubstance, the combination of a plurality of endless chains, means forintermittently moving said endless chains, means connected therewith forsuspending the structure, a series of treating devices each adapted toperform a step in the manufacture of the incandescent mantle, and amantle-trimming mechanism, said mechanism comprising a mandrel, a knifefor the mandrel and a bar carrying said knife and in engagement with themandrel, which bar is adapted to be reciprocated and in itsreciprocation to rotate the mandrel.

18. In a machine for treating structures to produce incandescent mantlesoriginally consisting of fabrics impregnated with suitable substances,the combination of a traveling support having means for suspending aplurality of structures, means for intermittently moving said travelingsupport, a series of treating devices comprising movable tables, meansfor raising and lowering the movable tables, and counterbalance-weightsconnected with such movable tables.

19. In a machine for treating structures to produce incandescent mantlesoriginally consisting of fabrics impregnated with a suitable substance,the combination of a series of treating devices and a traveling supportfor the structures, said traveling support consisting of a plurality ofendless chains, carriers between the chains, independent suspensiondevices connected withthe carriers, and means for adjusting thesuspension devices in such carriers.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JOSEPH 1. ROBIN.

WVitnesses:

A. J. SOUREIRE, G120. E. GRUsE.

